Lee Cook and Wayne Routledge insist QPR can maintain their challenge for the play-offs despite the loss of Martin Rowlands.

Skipper Rowlands will miss the rest of the season after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage during Saturday's 2-0 victory at Derby.

The midfielder was carried off on a stretcher and on Monday the results of a scan confirmed that he faces several months on the sidelines.

"It is a blow, especially with Akos Buzsaky and Rowan Vine out as well," said Cook.

"But we're going to play our hearts out for him. He's the captain of the club, a great man and a great player.

"He's been here a long time and I know he loves QPR.

"The sooner he gets back on the pitch the better. He's a massive player for us."

At least the Rs can be encouraged by their response to the loss of Rowlands at Pride Park, where they recovered from that early setback to secure only their second away win of the season.

Recent signing Routledge took advantage of a lucky break to score his first goal for the club and the winger then set up Rangers' second goal, pulling the ball back from the right for Mikele Leigertwood to fire home nine minutes before halftime.

The result was a nightmare start for new Derby boss Nigel Clough and lifted Rangers up to eighth in the table - three points behind sixth-placed Cardiff.

Cook added: "Hopefully now that's going to spur us on. What we need is four or five wins on the spin if we're going to get in the play-offs because we have drifted behind.

"I feel that my form's coming. Before I got a virus recently I felt like it was coming together for me.

"And now we've got Wayne Routledge on the right side with me on the left, let's hope we can really cause teams some damage."

Routledge, who ran rings around Rams full-back Mo Camara, said: "I'm just pleased to be playing because I hadn't played regularly for a while.

"As far as I'm concerned, QPR should be in the playoffs, and that's where I want us to be. I definitely think we can push on now and get into that top six."

Boss Paulo Sousa has praised the early impact made by former Fulham winger Routledge.

"Wayne really impressed," Sousa said of the 23-year-old.

"He was fantastic for us and his team-mates complimented him too, so it worked out really well.

"He is a hugely important player for us as we bid to progress as a team.

"Wayne was one of my priorities during the transfer window and the board backed me to bring him in here and I really appreciate that.

"The dynamics of the side are improving because we have greater options now. Wayne is integral to that."

Meanwhile, Rangers appear to have tied striker Dexter Blackstock to a long-term contract.

Blackstock, 22, has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal.

He had been in talks with the club for some time and both parties were confident he would put pen to paper.

But the longstanding bid to sign Crystal Palace's Ben Watson has run into trouble after the midfielder began to attract serious interest from Premier League clubs.

Watson has been holding out for a move to the top flight, although no managers made a firm move to sign him despite watching him a number of times and several clubs being linked with the player.

Manager: Tony Parkes Position last season: 19th Form Guide: Losing boss Simon Grayson to Leeds was a blow for the Pool in their battle to beat the drop. They have won just three of 13 home games this season - against Barnsley (1-0),Derby (3-2) and Charlton (2-0) - and won only once on their last seven at home going into the weekend game against Birmingham City. Winners at Bloomfield Road have been Bristol City,Sheff United, Ipswich,Preston and Sheff Wed. They were knocked out of the FA Cup at non league Torquay (0-1). Players to look out for: The Seasiders have acquired DJ Campbell on loan from Leicester City. The ex-Brentford striker marked his debut with a goal at Coventry City last weekend.

Head-to-head record: BFC Wins: 3 QPR Wins: 12 Draws: 7 [25a0] Match Facts: Defeat at Blackpool last season was the only one suffered by Rangers in 15 meetings with the Seasiders and there has only ever been two losses for the Hoops at Bloomfield Road. The other was in 1972. Rangers have won three and drawn five of the other eight matches played there between the sides - who will be meeting for only the 23rd time since they first crossed swords in the 1968/9 season. A Dexter Blackstock goal rescued a point for Rangers when the sides met at Loftus Road in September - Gary Taylor-Fletcher having scored for the visitors.

Forecast: Having ended their long wait for a second away win of the season, Rangers can build on the confidence of the Derby win with another three points.